Wednesday, February 23, 2005

TEHRAN: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said Pakistan and Iran were tied in historical and cultural relations based on common religious tradition.

Aziz Wednesday met Chairman Expediency Council and former speaker of Iranian parliament Ali Akbar Hashmi Rafsanjani in Tehran and discussed ways and means to further strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran.

The two leaders emphasized the need to cement existing ties between the two countries, which were bound with historical, religious and cultural links.

They discussed bilateral relations and situation in the region.

Rafsanjani said the visit of Pakistani PM would get closer the two neighboring countries. The two leaders also agreed to work jointly for Islam’s better global image.

Hashmi Rafsanjani lauded President Musharraf’s concept of enlightened moderation and expressed Iran’s wholehearted support for it."